knitted easter egg decoration

This pattern uses oddments of 4 ply yarn (I usually work it in cotton - such as Rowan Cotton 4ply) and uses 2.75 mm needles. My tension works out to 8 stitches and 10 rows per inch. Row 1: Cast on 11 stitches (leaving a length of yarn about 6 inches for sewing up later) Row 2: Purl Row 3: K2, (*M1, K1) 8 times, K1 (19 stitches) *M1=make one, Row 4: Purl Row 5: K2, (M1, K1) 16 times, K1 (35 stitches) Row 6: Purl Row 7: Knit Row 8: Purl Row 9: K3, M1, (K2, M1) 6 times, K3, M1 (K2, M1) 7 times, K3 (50 stitches) Row 10: Purl Row 11: Change to yarn colour for pattern band - work chosen pattern band over the next 12 rows (see charts below for pattern suggestions) or simply use a contrasting colour for middle 12 rows. Zig zag pattern using 3 colours:

Polka dot pattern using 2 colours:

Stripe pattern using 2 or more colours:

gingham pattern using 3 colours:

Or why not design your own band (50 stitches x 12 rows):

Row 23: change yarn colour and work 2 rows without shaping Row 25: K3, K2 tog, (K2, K2tog) 11 times, K1 (38 stitches) Row 26: purl Row 27: K2, K2 tog, (K1, K2tog) 11 times, K1 (26 stitches) Row 28: purl Row 29: knit Row 30: purl Row 31: K1, (K2 tog) 12 times, K1 (14 stitches) Row 32: purl Cut the work from the yarn leaving an end around 6 inches long, thread end through stitches on needle and pull up tight. Use this end to begin sewing up the seam. Sew around 1 inch of seam and then begin seaming at other end of egg. If you want to hang the egg as a decoration then cut a length of ribbon and tie the ends together. Thread the loop through the gathered stitches at the pointed end of the egg leaving the knotted part inside. At the other end of the egg thread the length of yarn left by the cast on and use to catch up the 11 stitch loops and up pull tight. Continue in mattress stitch to close the seam - leaving around 2 inches of unclosed seam to stuff the egg (if using polyfil or similar). If you are fitting it around a polystyrene egg just sew around half an inch of seam at either end and close the rest of the seam with the polystyrene egg in place. When the seams meet tie off ends and thread inside trimming off any excess ends.